Indian Wells SF: Carlos Alcaraz vs Rafael Nadal

[Visionary]

Improving his serve needs to be Alcaraz's top priority going forward.

Absolutely! I'd say the work of his wrist on the first serve when he wants to hit a faster ball is the trouble. The teenager had little problem with that on his second serve.

 

[UnderratedSlam]

What were you saying?

I said...

Nevermind...

 

[Vamos Rafa Nadal]

Looking at some of the stats - and I do acknowledge and recognize that they were playing each other so these stats are skewed as a result:

Aces: 1 for Rafa, 1 for Carlos

Double faults: 4 for Rafa, 3 for Carlos

First serve %: 67% for Rafa, 63% for Carlos

Win first serve %: 60% for Rafa, 60% for Carlos

Win second serve %: 50% for Rafa, 50% for Carlos

Break points: 6/21 for Rafa, 5/14 for Carlos

So... all in all, an extremely close match, and they both had a harder time than usual with their service games. Rafa kept his DF's down to just 4 - he loses when that number goes up to high. They both have superb return games which is reflected in these stats. I couldn't find total points won, and other nice stats to compare but I am sure others know where to find them!

I am rewatching the match right now - they are on serve in the first set. It is so much easier to watch after the suspense is over of who wins the match! The press conferences from both players were impressive and heart-warming too.

 

[Ajosin]

Nadal's net skills won him the match he doesn't get enough praise for that.

Yes, a very important part of his game that helps him get the edge when it matters. Very underrated.

 

[_phantom]

Two journalists asked Alcaraz about breaking racquets at two different times during the press conference. Alcaraz said he had broken racquets when he was younger, but hadn't broken any in about 4 years.

I think the journos were trying to underline how mature and likable this young talent is, and how it should be, compared to the racquet breaking tw@ts we see every week.

 

[James P]

Break points: 6/21 for Rafa, 5/14 for Carlos

Rafa started a brutal 2/16. Then won 4 of his last 5.
Carlos started a torrid 4/4. Then went 1 of his last 10.

Quite the turnaround.

 

[Vamos Rafa Nadal]

Just finished rewatching the second set - that 20 minute service game where Rafa got broken was wild, and then Carlos winning the set - almost every service game for both of them has been a fierce battle. It's so different watching the match after the anxiety and suspense is over as to who wins the match - one can analyze it so much better and be less reactive. Of course I loved that Carlos won this set!

So there was only one break point in all of set 3 for Rafa (Carlos had several in one of Rafa's service games but failed to break) and that was what decided the winner of the match!

 

[Chanwan]

Disagree. If he was the real deal he would have won this match in straights. Pete Sampras at only 5 months older than Carlos is now won the USO defeating Lendl, Mac and Agassi. I like Carlos, but absolutely no excuse to lose to old Rafa on a HC. The true greats win these types of matches even as teens. That sounds hard, but it's true (incoming 10 posts, "Fed hadn't even won a tournament at Carlos' age!!!!!")

I think you're overly harsh on Alcaraz. He's got everything to become an ATG. Does that mean 10+ slams? Now that's too early to say of course, but given the talent-level of the players older than him, I think it's safe to say he'll have a great career.

 

[Chanwan]

Rafa started a brutal 2/16. Then won 4 of his last 5.
Carlos started a torrid 4/4. Then went 1 of his last 10.

Quite the turnaround.

Story of the match - and one of the reasons why I like Alcaraz going forward. The fact that he was outperforming Rafa in clutchness up until the third speaks volumes.

Not Rafa's best match. Far too many UEs but give Alcaraz his due, he is the best of the new NextGen and he didn't make it easy for Rafa.

Rafa always brings out the best in all his opponents including Federer and Djokovic.

I was about to like your post and then I read the bolded

 

[Nostradamus]

Would Carlos Alcarez have won if it wasn't so windy ?

 

[Chanwan]

I was specifically addressing the claim Carlos will be an ATG. At his age, both Becker and Wilander had won 2 slams. Fed at 19 defeated Pete at Wimbledon, so he proved his chops too.

There's utterly no excuse for an 18 supposedly "future ATG" to lose this match to ancient Rafa off-clay. I like Carlos, but calling it as it is.

You've seen so many pretenders come and disappoint the past decade that you've lost perspective. Comparing him to Fed beating Pete at Wimbledon is not fair either. Fed was a month and a bit shy of his 20th birthday. Carlos is a month and a half shy of his 19th birthday now - i.e. he's got a full year to match Fed beating Pete at Wimbledon.

If you want to directly compare him with Fed, you need to look at the the second half of 1999 and first half of 2000 and then compare that with the last 12 months for Carlos.
(hint: Carlos' come out way ahead)

Fed at 19 (almost 20, really) defeated Pete at Wimbledon. May I ask what he was doing at 18?

you beat me to it

 

[Chanwan]

Such a good match and amazing level considering conditions. Loved Alcatraz’s attitude and play throughout. I think he may be the real deal.
That said, and we’ve had whole threads about it, but I will stick to Nadal being one of the best net players around. Some epic saves. Alcaraz has that too, but Nadal on those big points…wow.

good stuff

Rafa's third set net game was outright stunning, one of the best netperformances I've seen from him in one set.

 

[Chanwan]

To be fair, Rafa asked for the medical timeout 2 games back. He played out till the next break between serves for the timeout.
Alcaraz had opportunities in that time in Rafa service game. It was upto alcaraz to grab them.
Also in the second set when he was struggling with the wind, he played it out despite clearly at a disadvantage.

Sorry what?? Are we to applaud Rafa for playing and finishing the 2nd set? Because it was windy? Why was it any worse for Rafa, who plays with more margin for error?

 

[K-H]

Fritz pulling out of pre final practice due to ankle issues.
This might end in a WO...

 

[Rattie]

[

 

[Tshooter]

Fritz pulling out of pre final practice due to ankle issues.
This might end in a WO...

 

[The Big Foe fan]

And there was you, only a day ago, claiming you don’t use personally insulting names, and objecting to being on the receiving end of one yourself.

That does not apply to celebrities

 

[DSH]

Story of the match - and one of the reasons why I like Alcaraz going forward. The fact that he was outperforming Rafa in clutchness up until the third speaks volumes.


I was about to like your post and then I read the bolded

And how do you think he won their match in Australia and Wimbledon?
Playing bad?

 

[Vamos Rafa Nadal]

How I wish Carlos had been in the final! I really do believe he would have won - we will never know of course....

 

[beltsman]

Despite the amazing tennis from these guys, I think Fritz will be trouble for either of them...

Alcaraz serve does nothing to Nadal. Fritz serve can bully Nadal all day long and make life brutal. Fritz can blast his FH and had a great 1-2 punch. I actually think Fritz is a tougher MATCHUP for Nadal than Alcaraz.

Called it!

 

[Chanwan]

And how do you think he won their match in Australia and Wimbledon?
Playing bad?

Learn to read Everybody here knows - or should know - the story of Fedal. No need to rehearsh it everytime, but... Rafa dominated up until AO 14 and Fed played below par in a lot of those matches, credit to Rafa for making him worse.
Fed turned the rivalry around after that with the neo-backhand, the bigger racquet and some help from Rafa's declined movement and more offensive game style in his old age, which was easier for Fed to deal with

 

[robow7]

Was definitely high octane tennis.

 

[DSH]

Learn to read Everybody here knows - or should know - the story of Fedal. No need to rehearsh it everytime, but... Rafa dominated up until AO 14 and Fed played below par in a lot of those matches, credit to Rafa for making him worse.
Fed turned the rivalry around after that with the neo-backhand, the bigger racquet and some help from Rafa's declined movement and more offensive game style in his old age, which was easier for Fed to deal with

They should only speak for the 2017 season, nothing more than that.
If the Federer fans believe that with the bigger racket the Swiss was going to reverse the rivalry they couldn't be more wrong.
Anyway, q the Swiss is already finished for a long time and already represents the past.